Must-Play 2026 Wargames: The Ultimate Wishlist for Strategy Fans
The year 2026 is shaping up to be an incredible year for strategy and wargaming enthusiasts, with a wave of ambitious releases promising wargames of deeper complexity, historical authenticity, new and unique experiences, and some of the most immersive gameplay we have ever seen in wargaming. From naval and armored warfare simulators to ancient battles, World War 2, and modern combat, the top wargames on this list cater to both hardcore strategists and newcomers. I’m certain that these upcoming titles are the ones every wargamer will want to wishlist and follow closely throughout the year, but have in mind that this list is my personal list, and the wargames you’re most excited to play in 2026 might differ, so let’s get a conversation going on the comment section, and let me know what other wargames you would add to this list.
10 – Battleship Command
Announced just a week ago by MicroProse, Battleship Command is shaping up to be one of 2026’s most immersive naval‑war experiences, putting you in command of a historically accurate Scharnhorst‑class battleship during WWII. I kind of enjoy these more zoomed-in experiences. Instead of trying to recreate dozens of ships, progressively exploring just one type of ship can make for awesome and memorable experiences. One of my personal favorites of this kind is the full campaign I have played in IL-2: Sturmovik, playing exclusively as a C-47A Skytrain pilot, dropping paratroopers, doing supply runs mid-battle, evading enemy fighters, and anti-aircraft fire. Pretty great and memorable stuff. So I’m excited for Battleship Command, especially because I’m not the greatest fan of abstract fleet‑level control, and much prefer to operate on the decks, operate radar, navigation, and gunnery systems, give orders to my crew, and even take direct control of critical stations, all things Battleship Command is poised to let you do. If Battleship Command delivers on its ambition, it could become the go‑to WWII surface‑war simulator and an absolute must‑wishlist for any fan of naval wargames in 2026.
9 – Sudden Strike 5
Look, I know that my relationship with Sudden Strike 4 didn’t start in the best possible way, and I was a bit rough criticizing it, but I have to recognize that, despite being a bit shallow, Sudden Strike 4 has two things going for it: Good looks and more content than most strategy games. So, if Sudden Strike 5 manages to deliver on those two aspects as well, it could be a breakout, mainstream hit for wargames. Built from a storied legacy of real-time tactical combat with an updated engine, modern graphics, and a renewed focus on combined-arms warfare, but with its roots in classic WWII RTS gameplay, this new installment seems primed to deliver massive, chaotic battles where positioning, terrain, and army composition will decide the outcome. It’s on my wishlist, so I’ll be watching it attentively.
8 – Strategos
I have actually played Strategos before and interviewed the developer of the game, so the fact that the game is still in my wargames you need to wishlist for 2026 should be an indication that the game is going to be somewhat good, even if some aspects of it still need some work. For years, players have been asking for an alternative to Total War, and despite Strategos lacking a grand-strategy aspect, the real-time tactical battles are pretty comparable, even if they go for a more authentic and historical approach. With over 120 factions and 250 unique units spanning centuries of ancient history, Strategos delivers massive, chaotic battles where the difference between victory and rout is determined by smart use of terrain, cohesion, morale, formation discipline, and cunning generalship rather than sheer numbers. If you’re a fan of ancient history and have been looking for a substitute for Rome: Total War or Pharaoh, Strategos could redefine your taste in the genre, and you should consider wishlisting it going forward to 2026.
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